Last Word
Equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime. A Prohibition-era drink revived in Seattle in the 2000s.
Shaken · Coupe · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 25% ABV
Ingredients
- 22.5 ml Gin
- 22.5 ml Green Chartreuse
- 22.5 ml Maraschino liqueur
- 22.5 ml Fresh lime juice
- Lime twist (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 22.5 ml gin into the shaker
- Pour 22.5 ml Green Chartreuse into the shaker
- Pour 22.5 ml maraschino liqueur into the shaker
- Add 22.5 ml fresh lime juice
- Add ice
- Shake hard
- Strain
- Garnish
Tip
Measure precisely. Equal parts only works when the parts really are equal.
About the Last Word
First recorded at the Detroit Athletic Club around the start of Prohibition, the Last Word was printed in Ted Saucier's 1951 book Bottoms Up. It was almost forgotten until Seattle bartender Murray Stenson found it in that book in the early 2000s and put it on his menu at the Zig Zag Café. From there it spread around the world and inspired many equal-parts riffs.
The sour family. Sours are one of the oldest mixed-drink families. Spirit, citrus and sugar go back to the punches British sailors and traders drank in the 1600s and 1700s, and Jerry Thomas printed sour recipes in the first American bartending book in 1862. Egg white came later, for a silky foam. Almost every classic with fresh citrus, from the Daiquiri to the Whiskey Sour, follows this pattern.
Last Word FAQ
What's in a Last Word?
22.5 ml gin, 22.5 ml green chartreuse, 22.5 ml maraschino liqueur, 22.5 ml fresh lime juice, garnished with lime twist.
How strong is a Last Word?
About 25% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 2.3 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is close to a straight spirit, so sip it slowly.
Should I shake or stir a Last Word?
Shake it. citrus, juice and cream need shaking to mix properly and gain a light, lively texture.
What glass do you serve a Last Word in?
A coupe, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No coupe? Use a martini glass or small wine glass.
